Exploration is possible on different scales: from the observation of the Earth via satellites to discovering the most immediate local environment. The objectives and resources necessary to move are different, but the attitude with regard to the space one wishes to explore is similar.

The large part of discovery of nature has been carried out by local explorers in their closest environment, in their county, in their country. Dedication to a limited and nearby space allows it to be visited on different occasions over time.

Annotations taken spontaneously in the Montseny (Catalonia) since 1940 combined with data from more recent publications and photographs have allowed changes to be detected in the vegetation of these massifs. The apparent causes are global warming and the abandoning of traditional forestry activities. The publication of these results in the year 2006, was one of the first to trace the influence of climate change. A local study has become a worldwide reference point.